Is Ryan ready for playoff challenge?

The line on Bobby Ryan's NHL playoff experience doesn't take up much space on the NHL Players Association website.

Two games. Two penalty minutes. Two shots.

That's it.

Though Ryan was little more than an afterthought in last season's Stanley Cup playoffs, his role has become more prominent in the last 12 months.

The Dallas Stars didn't see a need to pay much attention to the rookie as they eliminated the Ducks in six first-round games but the San Jose Sharks, this year's playoff opponent, can't afford to take Ryan as lightly.

Ryan makes up one-third of the Ducks' top line, sharing ice time with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. They didn't spend the entire season together but managed to account for 88 goals and 132 assists.

Can Ryan continue to put up numbers that made him a candidate for Rookie of the Year even though his season didn't start until mid-November? His teammates think he can.

"He's going to be exactly as good as he wants to be," said veteran Teemu Selanne. "He has all the tools, all the skills.

"He's seen how tough it is and he's ready. I think he's going to be awesome. The whole line is going to be dominating. I have a feeling. I know those guys."

Ryan spent part of the season sharing line space with Selanne and Andrew Ebbett. It was an easy fit for him because he and Ebbett had played together in the minors, and Selanne seems to adapt to anyone.

The switch to the Getzlaf-Perry line took some getting used to.

"Me and Perrs (Perry) have played together for three years, four years now," Getzlaf said. "We kind of know where each other are going to be and all that stuff.

"When Bobby came in, we've been used to having a different left winger every other week. Bobby came in and fit in pretty well but not right away. Bobby is a player who wants the puck all the time and there is only one puck. It's a situation where we had to all work, the three of us, and learn to trust each other that much more that if you give it, you're going to get it back. He developed that comfort level where if he gives us the puck, he's going to get it back.

"Bobby has been developing as a player through this whole year and we're going to talk to him as much as we can. We've been in similar situations, which helps. I think he's going to be good. He's confident and he's ready to play."

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